cũng tàm tạm
So-so; not too bad
Tiếng Việt · Sài Gòn & the South 1936
All languages English Tiếng Việt
Where will you be? Anywhere Hà Nội & the NorthHuế / Đà Nẵng & the CenterSài Gòn & the SouthOnline slang Bắc ↔ Nam words
Sayings you’ll hear in the South — distinctly Southern usage first, then nationwide staples.
cơm chẳng lành, canh chẳng ngọt
rice isn't well cooked, broths aren't well seasoned
cơm không lành, canh không ngọt
synonym of cơm chẳng lành, canh chẳng ngọt
cơm thừa canh cặn
leftover rice and soup dregs
cười người hôm trước, hôm sau người cười
"Minor successes or failures along the way are of no significance – the person who is ultimately triumphant is the only real winner.".
cạp đất mà ăn
impoverished; impecunious; destitute
cả gió tắt đuốc
Criticism or pressure that is too harsh snuffs out motivation instead of correcting it.
cả giận, mất khôn
losing temper will lead to a lapse in judgment
cả nhà
(phrase) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see cả, nhà.
cải tà quy chính
to switch from sin to the right path; to mend one's ways; to turn over a new leaf
cầm đèn chạy trước ô tô
to jump the gun, to get ahead of oneself
cần lời giải thích
I need explanation; this needs explanation
cầu tàu vươn ra biển
jetty extending into the sea
cầu được ước thấy
the one getting what they want
cẩn tắc vô ưu
Close to the English saying: “Harm watch is harm catch.”.
cẩn tắc vô ưu, vô áy náy
better safe than sorry
cẩu lương
“Dog food” — public displays of affection force-fed to the single people watching.
cắm sừng
to cuckold (one's husband)/cuckquean (one's wife); to put horns on (one's spouse); to be unfaithful to (one's spouse)
cặp bài trùng
perfect pair; perfect match
cổ kim
past and present; then and now
cục tạ
Affectionately, one’s ball-and-chain — a partner jokingly called a heavy burden.
của thiên, trả địa
Close to the English saying: “Ill gotten, ill spent. (Mr. B Lam).”.
của ít lòng nhiều
possessing little and not giving any significant gifts, but being very warm-hearted instead
cửa hàng văn phòng phẩm
stationery shop
cửa hàng đồ làm vườn
garden-supplies shop
da bọc xương
nothing but skin and bones; mere bag of bones
danh bất hư truyền
reputation is well merited
danh chính ngôn thuận
to be fitting and proper; to be perfectly justified or deserved
danh lam thắng cảnh
famous sights and beautiful landscapes; splendid tourist attractions
dc
Texting shortcut for “được” — can / OK / fine.
dm
Vulgar expletive initialism (đ* má) — “damn it / f—”. Extremely common online as pure exclamation; still an obscenity.
dth
Texting shortcut for “dễ thương” — cute, adorable.
dài lưng tốn vải
a long back wastes cloth
dây mơ rễ má
distant blood tie
dăm bữa nửa tháng
soonish; in the coming days
dĩ hoà vi quý
Making peace is treasured.
dĩ độc trị độc
"The best way to deal with an opponent is to fight back with similair weapons or tactics.".
dạ, cảm ơn
Yes, please.
dạo này thế nào?
How’s it going lately?
dằn túi
to save some money just in case one may need it.
dể được, dể mất
"Things that are easily acquired, especially money, are just as easily lost or spent.".
dệt gấm thêu hoa
to embellish; to embroider
dốt đặc cán mai
thick as a brick
dục tốc bất đạt
English equivalentː Haste makes waste.
dự báo thời tiết hôm nay hoặc ngày mai thế nào?
What’s the weather forecast for today or tomorrow?
em iu
Texting-cute spelling of “em yêu” — darling (to a woman), keyboard-softened.
em yêu anh
I love you (woman to man)
ga đến và ga đi
arrivals and departures
GATO
Jealous of someone else’s success or good fortune — envious hating.
ghi xương khắc cốt
to never forget; to be etched in one's memory
ghét cay ghét đắng
to have an extreme and utter hatred
ghế an toàn cho trẻ em
child safety seat
giang sơn dễ đổi, bản tính khó dời
changing a country's borders is easy, but changing a person's character is hard
giao bóng ăn điểm trực tiếp
ace; a serve won directly without being returned
gieo gió gặp bão
What you reap shall reap.
gieo gió gặt bão
We reap as we sow.
gieo nhân nào gặt quả nấy
you reap what you sow
già chơi trống bỏi
an old man playing the trống bỏi (a Vietnamese clapper drum toy played by children)
già đòn non lẽ
to use force to coerce someone into submission is better than to use reason
giàu vì bạn, sang vì vợ
men tend to act rich to their friends, classy to their wives
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